BASEBALL: Big inning lifts The Woodlands over Sachse in Game 1

By Justin Maskulinski, jmaskulinski@hcnonline.com

Published
10:07 pm CDT, Friday, May 11, 2018

The Woodlands' PJ Villarreal (27) celebrates with teammates after bringing home two runs during the baseball game against Sachse on Friday, May 11, 2018, at Scotland Yards. (Michael Minasi / Houston Chronicle)

The Woodlands' PJ Villarreal (27) celebrates with teammates after bringing home two runs during the baseball game against Sachse on Friday, May 11, 2018, at Scotland Yards. (Michael Minasi / Houston Chronicle)

Photo: Michael Minasi, Staff Photographer

Photo: Michael Minasi, Staff Photographer

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The Woodlands' PJ Villarreal (27) celebrates with teammates after bringing home two runs during the baseball game against Sachse on Friday, May 11, 2018, at Scotland Yards. (Michael Minasi / Houston Chronicle)

The Woodlands' PJ Villarreal (27) celebrates with teammates after bringing home two runs during the baseball game against Sachse on Friday, May 11, 2018, at Scotland Yards. (Michael Minasi / Houston Chronicle)

Photo: Michael Minasi, Staff Photographer

BASEBALL: Big inning lifts The Woodlands over Sachse in Game 1

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THE WOODLANDS – One big inning proved to be enough for The Woodlands in an 8-5 win over Sachse in Game 1 of the teams' Region II-6A area series Friday at Scotland Yard.

The Highlanders (18-14-1) scored all of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as 12 batters came to the plate.

"The big innings are always important," coach Ron Eastman said. "[Sachse] came out and played really good defense and had an off-speed pitcher who really baffled us for a few innings. We were able to get the big inning there. Thank goodness we were able to do that."

Both teams lit up the scoreboard in the fourth inning after a scoreless start to the evening.

Sachse (20-14-1) manufactured a 2-out rally in the top of the fourth. Chase Alford and Mark Anzaldua singled, then Chase Cromer walked to load the bases for the Mustangs.

Tye Fairley's single to right field scored Alford and Anzaldua and Sachse led 2-0.

The Woodlands responded in the bottom of the fourth in a big way.

PJ Villarreal began the rally with a 2-run home run to left field that scored Zayne Watson.

Villarreal had homered just once before this season and it was in a scrimmage.

"It felt pretty good coming off the bat," the junior said of Friday's homer. "It felt good to contribute in a big way. I thought it was pretty important that we answered back."

Shane Sirdashney's single plated Matt Bulovas to give the Highlanders a 3-2 lead, then the lead grew.

Casey Sunseri's sacrifice fly made it 4-2, then Sirdashney scored on a passed ball. Cameron Caley's 2-RBI single made it 7-2.

Villarreal's second hit of the inning, a double that scored Watson, capped the Highlanders' explosive inning. The shortstop was 3-for-3 and a triple short of the cycle.

Sachse came back in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs to make it 8-4. Alford's 2-run single did all the damage.

The Mustangs relief pitcher, Harrison Montoya, retired The Woodlands in order in the bottom of the fifth. Sachse starter Jordan Granado went four innings, allowed eight hits, struck out two and walked two.

The Woodlands starter Steven Beard sat the Mustangs down in order in the top of the sixth after allowing runs in the previous two innings. Beard finished with a complete game, eight strikeouts and 11 hits allowed.

Sachse loaded the bases on Beard in the top of the seventh and got one run across before he closed out Game 1 with back-to-back strikeouts.

"That was awesome," Beard said. "Honestly, you hate to load the bases, but I live for those moments. It got the adrenaline going and I was just thinking about going through my sequences with Drew (Romo) behind the plate and attacking the hitters."

The teams will wrap up the area series Saturday at Sachse. Game 2 will be played at 3 p.m. and Game 3, if necessary, will follow.

"We're going to have to swing the bats a little bit better," Eastman said. "They've got a better pitcher on the mound that we'll probably see Game 2. We'll just have to come ready to play."